Jointed figure toy



July 9, 1929. w. I. RAVERT JOINTED FIGURE TOY Filed Jfine 9, 1928 INVENTO ATTORNEYS Patented July 9, 1929.

@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM I. RAVERT, 0F HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO .A. W. DRAKE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to jointed figure toys and aims, among other objects, to provide a toy which is so constructed that it may assume various grotesque attitudes, and which may be manufactured economically and folded into a compact unit for shipment.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a toy embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; 1

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the toy shown in Fig. 1 compactly folded; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the figure toy, which in the present instance is in the form of a horse, is shown as comprising a body 10, front legs 11, rear legs 12, neck 13, tail 14 and head. 15 all of which are so constructed and arranged so that they may be moved relative to each other, whereby the figure may assume various humorous or other attitudes or poses.

Herein, the body 10 is shown. as comprising a pair of spaced, parallel flat sections, to which the neck, tail and legs areiconnected. The neck 13 and the frontlegs 11 are pivotally mounted. on atransverse pin 16 which passes through the front ends of the body sections, the neck being disposed between the sections and the legs on the outside. The ends of the pins are riveted in such a manner so that the parts are frictionally held in any position to which they are moved. The tail 14 and rear legs 12 are mounted in a similar manner on a pin 17, the tail being between the sections and the legs on the outside.

In order that the head may be moved in any direction, a universal joint is provided between the head and the neck. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) Herein, the joint is shown as comprising a pin 18 extending longitudinally from the end of the neck in which it is frictionally held for rotatable movement. The outer end portion of the pin is bent, substantially at right angles as indicated at 19 (Fig. 3), and is provided with an enlarged ball-shaped end 20 adapted to extend through a plate 21 formed with a flange 22 providing a socket for the ball, the plate being secured to the back of the head 13 in a manner to be described. To maintain the ball in frictional JOINT E1) FIGURE TOY.

1928. Serial No. 284,265.

engagement with the socket, the head is provided with a transverse opening 23 which ex tends therethrough and is adapted to contain an expansile coiled spring 24 which bears, at one end, against the ball 20 to urge the same toward the socket.

In order to provide eyes for the toy and at the same time to form an abutment for the other end of spring 24 and also to hold the socket plate to the head, tacks having enlarged rounded heads 25 are employed. The heads, which may be painted to simulate eyes, are mounted so that a port-ion of their rims extend over the aperture 23 (Fig. 3) to retain the spring in place. The shanks 26 of the tacks extend through the head and the plate 22 and havevtheir ends riveted over against the plate to rigidly secure the same to the head. It will be apparent that the head may be moved in any direction due to the ball and socket connection, and rotatable pin 18, with its bent portion 19. The length of the bent portion is such that the head will be substantially flat against the neck when the head is turned to its extreme positions.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the toy may be folded into a compact unit, so that all of the elements are substantially within the perimeter of the body 10,

the greatest width of the head being slightly less than the combined thicknesses of the body and the legs (Fig. 5) and the width of the lower part of the head being substantially the same as the thickness of the body so as to fold against the lower side of the body between the rear legs, as shown in Fig. 4.

The body sections, legs, tail and head, which may be made of wood, metal or any other material, are preferably of the same thickness so as to minimize expense of manufacture.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a jointed figure has been provided,

which may be readily adjusted and retained in various positions and which may be compactly folded so as to make a small package for convenient transportation or storage.

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is 1. A figure toy comprising, in combination, a body; front and rear legs, a neck and a tail pivotally connected. to the body; ahead asso- I a body; front andrear'legs, a neck and a. tail pivotally connected to. the body; a head associated with the neck; a pin extending longitudinally from the neckand having a bent end portion; a ball on said end; a socket member I for the ball secured to. the head; and means within the head to hold theball in the socket.

3. A figure toy. comprising, in combination, a body; front and rear legs, a neck and a tail pivotally connected to the body: a head associated with the neck a pin extending longitudinally from the neck and having a bent endportion; a ball on said end; a plate having a socket for the ball; spring means engaging the ball to hold theball in frictional engagement with the socket; and means on the head to secure the plate to the head and to hold said spring means in engagement with said ball.

4. A figure toy comprising, in combination, a body; front andrear legs, a neck and a tail pivotally connected to the body; a head associated with the neck; a pin extending from the neck and having a substantially right angular bend at the end thereof an enlarged ball shaped end on the pin; a plate on the back of the head andhaving a flange opening therein through which the enlarged ball end of the pin extends, the flz nge forming a seat for the ball; said head having a transverse opening therethrough; a coiled spring in said opening and abutting the ball to frictionally hold the same against its seat; and eyes for the toy comprising enlarged headed tacks, a portion of the rims of the tacks extending over the opening in-said head to retain the spring therein, with the shanks of the tacks extending through the head and riveted to the plate to secure the plate to the head.

5. Av figure toy comprising, in combination, a body; front and rear legs, a neck and a tail pivotally connected to the body; a head associated with the neck; a pin extending fromthe neck and having a substantially right angular bend at the end thereof; an enlarged ball shaped end on the pin; a plate on the head having a socket for said ball; said head having an opening therethrough; a coiled spring in said opening to trictionally hold the ball in the socket; and means on the head to hold the spring in the opening and to secure the plate to the head.

6. A figure toy comprising, in combination, a body; front and rear legs, a neck and a tail pivotally connected to the body; a head associated with the neck; a pin extending from the neck and having a. substantially right angular bend at'the end thereof; an enlarged ball shaped end on thepin; a plate on the head having a socket for said ball; said head having an opening therethrough a. coiled spring in said opening to frictionally hold the ball in the socket; and means on the head forming eyes for the toy to hold the spring in the opening and to secure the plate to the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as any own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

WILLIAM I. RAVERT. 

